The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-20
THE "EooNoMITEu ANNIVERSARY,

THE "EC0NOMITE" Anniversary.
Perhaps the announcement that the Econo-
mites have just been celebrating the eighty
second anniversary of the formation of their
society will interest the public, and perhaps it
will not. If not, the Economics will not
worry, for they care as little for the public as
the public possibly can for them. But what
they find in their society to celebrate" over
is beyond the conjecture of ordinary intelli-
gence Probably, if they possessed ordinary
intelligence, it would be beyond their coniect-
ure, also. They derive their name from that
of their town, Economy, which is
situated in Beaver county, Pennsvl-
vania, on the Ohio river, abont
twenty miles below Pittsburg The society
was founded by George Rapp, German, in
the early part of the present century. The
proper name of the society is the Harmonists.
In its origin it was a mild sort of socialistic
movement and the decayed remnant at
Economy is all that is left of it. Rapp was
fundamental idea of his society was COM
munity of goods. His followers were of
both sexes but there was no marrying.
Rapp's society first settled in Butler county,
Pennsylvania, where they founded the vii
lage of Harmony, and from whence
they removed, in 1915, to Posey
rfxy 80 Stato 1oI
Harmony. In 1924 they sold out their
property in this State, including several thou
sand acres of land, and the village of New
Harmony to Robert Owen, the founder Of
that well-known family, and moved back to
Pennsylvania, settling at Economy, where
they have since remained. Rapp died there
in 1847. The Economics are>still sometimes
called Rappites. They are Germans of very
primitive type, and a quaint queer people
severely plain in appearance and manners
honest, kindly, exclusive, and as different
FROM the outside world in their mode
of living as in their religious and social
tenets. The community was originally in
tended as an agricultural and manufacturing
one. AT one time the manufacturing inter
ests were considerable, but these long since
fell into decay, and for many years past moth
ing has been left of them but some dilapidated
buildings. The agricultural interests have
been better maintained. The society owns q
large body of land which, by the advance Of
real estate, has become very valuable OF
an original membership of about one
thousand, there are only about fifty
survivors, and most of these are quite old
Their lands are very productive and they have
good buildings, fine stock and all the para
ton of their property, including lands, would
be $50, 100000. They have managed to hole
their property together and in this have showr
considerable thrift. For the rest they hav,
simply existed in the world, but not of it
Life at Economy is as much apart from tn
rest of the world as if it were anothe
planet; and the surviving members o
the society are striking illustration
Of the mummifying influence of a secluded
selfish life. Their religious belief is founde,
on the Bible, but is crude perversion of it
For fifty years past they have been daily ex
pecting the second coming of Christ, as it i
believed His advent will take place before tn
death of the last surviving member of tn
society. In his anniversary discourse tn
other day, their preacher said he believed tn
time for which they had waited so lon
was close at hand. The prophetic
concerning the 'last days" prior I
the coming Of Christ and the destructio
of the world had been fulfilled, and he though
the present troubles in Europe, the Unite
States and Canada would probably involy
the 200, 900, 900 people spoken of by ST Johl
He reiterated the firm belief of the Econ
mites that Christ will establish kingdol
upon Mount Sinai, and limited at the remov